Small business usage of Canada Post slumps amid labour woes: CFIB

The cheque is likely in the mail — but Madilyn and Aaron Delos Santos wouldn’t know.

It’s a regular trade: the Delos Santoses send wares from their Winnipeg company, Spice World, to retailers; some shops send payment to Spice World via Canada Post.

“We’re already put on a (tightrope) with the cash flow,” Aaron said. “Anything that alters that or puts pressure on that really makes it a lot harder for small businesses.”

He’s thinking about retailers’ upcoming payments as the Canada Post strike continues. Meantime, he and Madilyn are contacting customers with post office boxes — it’s unclear when Spice World parcels might arrive to the rural clients.

Spice World (in business since 1997) has largely stopped using Canada Post. Before the strikes — there was one in late 2024 — Canada Post was the company’s go-to.

Now Canpar Express and UPS are the Delos Santoses’ main draws. Canada Post is reserved for rural customers other carriers can’t reach.

“You try different alternatives — and we may find a better way of doing things or a faster way,” Aaron relayed.

Spice World is in the majority: 55 per cent of small businesses decreased their Canada Post usage following the wintertime strike, a Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey conducted in June and July found.

Thirteen per cent said they stopped using Canada Post altogether.

The Delos Santoses sympathized with the striking workers. Unionized employees took action beginning in September, nearly two weeks after the federal government announced sweeping changes to Canada Post’s mandate.

Still, there’s a sense of uncertainty and unease, “especially with no knowledge of how long this is going to be for,” Aaron said.

Don Gaye has started ordering through couriers like Purolator earlier. “I’m guessing that the couriers have become swamped,” the Sign Source owner said, noting longer shipment times.

Gaye prefers to send his invoices through Canada Post. Since the last strike, though, he’s turned to automatic pay in some instances.

“I’m surprised it’s gone on this long,” Gaye said, considering the current strike. “I did not think it would last.”

The CFIB has urged Ottawa to step in “immediately,” said Tyler Slobogian, a senior policy analyst with the advocacy group.

He pointed to a CFIB report released Thursday: half of Canadian businesses polled supported a reduction in residential mail delivery; 51 per cent agreed with replacing door-to-door delivery with community mailboxes.

Moving forward with “long overdue reforms” is crucial, Slobogian said.

The CFIB is calling for a freeze on Canada Post’s compensation expenses, support for more flexible work schedules and naming Canada Post an essential service provider to prevent future work stoppages, among other things.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com